Bulldogs earn a split with 6-4 win in series finale against Mid-America Nazarene

Bulldogs earn a split with 6-4 win in series finale against Mid-America Nazarene

Facing a series sweep the Concordia University (Neb.) Baseball team closed the series with Mid-America Nazarene Pioneers in strong fashion, earning a 6-4 win in the second game of a double-header and the series finale on Saturday, Feb. 25 in Olathe, Kan.  The first game of the day saw the Pioneers down the Bulldogs, 16-6.

Following Saturday's action Concordia is 3-5 on the season, while Mid-America Nazarene moved to 6-3 overall.  

The first game on Saturday saw the Pioneers jump out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first two innings, but Concordia responded with two runs in the top of the third inning on a clutch two-out two-run double into left center from senior Brandon Pflug (Ft. Morgan, Colo.).   

Unfortunately the Pioners added eight runs in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the fifth inning to build a 16-2 edge.  The Bulldogs gave a valiant effort in the top of the seventh, plating four runs on three hits, including a two-run double by senior Anthony Flores (Craig, Colo.), but the deficit was too much to overcome.  

Senior Steven Ivanoff (Tucson, Ariz.) suffered the loss (0-2), allowing nine runs (five earned) on eight hits and one walk.  The Pioneers' Kyle Olson (1-1) nabbed the win, giving up two runs on six hits in six innings.

In game two the Bulldogs took a page from the Pioneers, grabbing an early lead and putting the game out of reach in the closing frame.   Concordia kicked off the game with three runs in the top of the first inning.  Senior Zak Goodrich (Lutz, Fla.) and freshman Andrew Yerrell (Santa Fe, Texas) drew walks to kick off the game, then advanced to second and third on a wild pitch.   Pflug reached on an error, sending Goodrich home and Yerrell to third.  Yerrell came in to score on an RBI groundout off the bat junior Nolan Schaefer (Lincoln, Neb.), and Pflug scampered home on an RBI single by senior Tate Bedwell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) to make it 3-0. 

The Pioneers responded with two runs on two hits and a Concordia error in the bottom of the third to bring the score to 3-2.  

The game remained 3-2 entering the top of the seventh, when the Bulldogs' offense reignited. Once more it was Goodrich and Yerrell providing the spark.  With one out, Goodrich drew his second walk of the game, then Yerrell followed with a bunt single down the first base line.  After a pitching change, Pflug scalded a single through the left side to plate Goodrich.  Freshman Daniel Wilkerson (Santa Fe, Texas) came on to pinch hit and blasted a two-run double down the right field line to push the Bulldogs lead to 6-2.  

In the final frame, junior Nick Thill (Littleton, Colo.) battled through a spirited effort from the Pioneers to preserve the win, 6-4.   

Freshman Kyle Godfrey (Firestone, Colo.) earned the win (2-0) by holding Mid-America Nazarene to just two runs on five hits and two walks in five innings.  The Pioneers' Trent Hedlund took the loss (1-1) allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits and three walks in 6.1 innings pitched.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Friday, Mar. 2 as Concordia faces Oklahoma Wesleyan and Missouri Valley College in a split doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.